MUSIC

​Live musical entertainment includes local musical talent:

*Gary Hoey

*Rust Never Sleeps

​

*Carissa Johnson

*Real School of Music young musicians

*and variety of other acts.

​

Gary Hoey born and raised in Lowell MA explodes with his 20th album, Dust & Bones [Mascot Label Group], which is an exuberant fusion of blues, seeing great reviews and entered the Billboard Blues chart at #5. Hoey has toured and traded licks with Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, Brian May of Queen, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Eric Johnson, Peter Frampton. As writer, producer, and guitar player, Hoey's clients have included Lita Ford, Dick Dale, Disney, ESPN, he has performed the National Anthem for the New England Patriots, and the Boston Red Sox.

A Squire Fender Stratocaster guitar, signed by Gary Hoey, will be raffled off at the festival.

​

​​Rust Never Sleeps is a live Neil Young retrospective band. Band leader Ken Gibson teaches cabinet making at the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) in Lowell where he works with teens which gives him a special connection to young people.

​

Local Andover musician and Boston rock artist Carissa Johnson has proven to leave her mark and she’s only getting started. Carissa has been recognized, especially in the Boston scene, for her debut album "For Now." The debut release won Album of the Year 2016 by Limelight Magazine and her band was nominated for Best Punk Act by the Worcester Music Awards. She is known for her straight-forward lyrics and live energy, playing shows both with her band and acoustically. She continues to tour periodically and play shows throughout the United States in promotion of her sophomore album “Only Roses,” released in May 2016.

​Singer/songwriters Gary Rubin and Deby Jelenare currently based in Boston, where they recently founded the duo Edenville. The group’s distinct blend of blues, retro jazz, and melodic noir storytelling can next be heard at Boston’s iconic House of Blues on September 22nd.

​The Festival will also feature talks and discussion forums by experts in the opiate addiction field. Plus there will be lots of entertainment for the kids and plenty of food and beverages to make the festival a day for the entire family. One way Andover Cares raises funds is through donations of $20 toward an Andover Cares button. Kids under the age of 18 can contribute $10 for a button. By purchasing a button and wearing it throughout the year, supporters will spread the word about Andover Cares. Buttons can be purchased in advance at AndoverCaresFestival.EventBrite.com.

Andover Cares Music Festival sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Andover Rotarian Amy Salant at [email protected] for more information on becoming a community leader in the fight against substance abuse addiction.

Improbable PLAYERS

get the conversation going in your community........

"The purpose of the presentation was to highlight that substance misuse is not something that effects just one person, but many families, friends and others."

Reaction to the program? "[The Principal] thinks it was one of the most successful programs he has seen to help generate conversation and connecting the students with services. He got a good number of calls from parents whose students came home and discussed it with them as well. This is such a huge step to breaking down the walls of silence so people can access help."

​

Celeste Clark, Executive Director, Raymond Coalition for Youth

other recent collaborations with coalitions >

Students found the material relevant and thought-provoking. In discussions after your program, we saw that they took away important messages about substance abuse, communication, and seeking help.

bring in the improbable players to jumpstart your community prevention education efforts - with plays and theater workshops that really work in a variety of settings with all ages - schools, colleges, community organizations, recovery centers, senior centers, youth and adult conferences.